Mobile lectures

Sheila Ocen, 22, is in her third year studying English literature at the University of Surrey. Ocen advises potential applicants to check out universities' use of technology to assist students.

"We have a password-protected website where all your lectures are uploaded immediately and there are forums for discussions with other students so you can debate and get any questions answered," she says. "I've got a tablet so I download the lectures for when I'm on the bus – since I have dyslexia, it's really useful to revisit them. Twitter is really helpful too – every single department has a Twitter feed, as well as the campus coffee shop and library, so you can tweet queries – anything from asking lecture times to academic questions."

Accommodation

Elana Freeman, 19, is studying economics at the University of Nottingham. Freeman advises picking a campus university that offers places in halls of residence for freshers.

"In my first year, I lived in a hall in the rural part of the campus, which is so green and pretty," she says. "It was such a sociable environment to live in – every night I would meet up with everyone to go to dinner, and because there were 300 people in my hall, every night you would see people even if you had been at lectures all day. I ended up making loads of really good friends. Living on campus also means you feel like you are in one bubble, all you see is university students – it creates a sense of community."

Tips? "Look around accommodation at open days, but do understand that that you're not guaranteed what you want – one of my friends picked her university just because she fell in love with some amazing en-suite rooms, but didn't get one. Also, Google the different halls and look on forums – some have a reputation for being party places and others are quieter, while some have lots of students from particular courses, for example, medicine."

Travel opportunities

"Coming from a poor socio-economic background, university has allowed me to experience and live a life I did not think possible – including travelling to more than 10 countries." Trips have included a charity hitchhike that challenges students to flee as far from Bournemouth as they can in 36 hours without spending a penny. "By means of begging, pleading, charm and resilience, in lorries, Jaguars, vans, boats and planes, I reached Salzburg in Austria, via Belgium and Germany." says Scott. "I've also been granted the unbelievable chance to become the first events management student to study abroad – I go to South Africa in the final semester of next year to finish my studies."

Top advice? "If you want to get on to year-abroad schemes, fill your first-year timetable with extra-curricular activities. When you apply to travel abroad, lecturers want to know what you've done outside of your 16 or so hours' contact time in first year – so pick activities that will make the lecturer look at your CV and think: 'They'll really make the most of an overseas experience.'"

Sports

Daniel Fallon, 18, is studying strength and conditioning at the University of Gloucestershire. Fallon reckons sporting facilities can transform your university experience.

"I play rugby league and UoG gave me the opportunity to play professionally for the All Golds, the only pro rugby league team owned by a university. Being in the All Golds has made my university experience 10 times better because I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people and friends, and enjoy professionally run away-trips to play high-level sport. Spending the weekends and summer with all the lads, even outside of university has been great for me. These have been life experiences I will never forget."

Advice? "Go to the universities and look at the sports facilities – a lot of places have old pictures of their equipment. I went to one particular university on an open day and the facilities were nothing like what they seemed online."

Careers service

"At Anglia Ruskin the team sends out vacancies on nearly a daily basis and organises guidance events and workshops for each faculty to help with the job application and recruitment process," she says. "My ideal career is as a project manager or entrepreneur. So the employability service assigned me a mentor, who is based at Barclays' London headquarters. I've had the chance to meet her at work and really get a feel of what it's like to be in that sort of environment. It's helped me narrow down my choices as I met employees from all the different departments, from HR to marketing to finance. It makes me feel more confident about applying for jobs, and I feel that I will graduate with more than just a degree."

Top tip: "Look at careers services – check out their online materials and talk to students. Being able to get a degree is an achievement itself, but having some first-hand experience in different fields has made me that little bit more confident that I will, hopefully, stand out from the crowd."

Technology

Robert Dooley, 21, is a second-year studying sustainable product design at Falmouth University. Dooley advises looking at what opportunities universities provide to collaborate with institutions and students abroad.

"We're encouraged to use remote technologies throughout our course, including working on a design project with academics at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and professionals from Marks & Spencer," he says. "We 'met' twice weekly via Skype to collaborate on research and development. Being able to work with designers from the other side of the world opens you up to a completely new set of influences and experiences, and it means we're better prepared for the workplace of the future. As transport becomes more expensive and we become more environmentally aware, it will increasingly make business sense to use remote technologies – and we'll have an edge, as we've already been using them."

Dooley also recommends signing up to as many technology courses as possible. "Make the most out of the (often free) courses in things like Adobe suite, computer-aided design tools, or whatever specialist skills your discipline may require. If you don't, then you really won't get another chance to do so."

Course facilities

"We have a simulated operating theatre – a mock-up of an NHS one – which allows us the opportunity to practise our skills safely before going out into clinical practice. You can also download slides from each lecture if you miss it, or want to revise, which makes it easier to work at your own pace."

Location

Look at the town or city you may be studying in, advises Scott. "Think about a university's location as much as about the course. I spent ages looking at London South Bank University, and had my heart set on it as I thought I wanted to be in central London," he says. "But since then I've travelled there quite a bit and realised actually I don't like it – it's really unfriendly, whereas in Bournemouth I'm always having conversations with random people at traffic lights. Where you live has to match your character."

Consider how far your chosen university might be from home and whether you're prepared to travel to get there, says Fallon. "As I'm from Wigan in the north and the University of Gloucestershire is in the south-west, I'd say the only bad thing is that it is a long way from home – it's about three hours on two different trains and the cost adds up: it's about £60. Make sure you get a student railcard."

Childcare

Those with dependents should check out what levels of help are on offer. All universities provide some kind of support for student parents, but the options and quality vary by institution. Undergraduate parents may be eligible for a special support grant, a non-repayable sum worth up to £3,387 to help with living costs. Students doing their first full-time higher education course may also be eligible for a grant to help pay for childcare while studying. Check out what drop-in sessions, mentor schemes from other student parents and even on-site nurseries universities offer at studentparents.org.

"I've got two young boys so am juggling uni with childcare," says Peat. "It is hard work but, if you're in the same position, I'd say go for it – universities have a lot of support networks – my uni, Glasgow Caledonian, has mentors so you can talk to people in the same situation."

• Lucy Tobin is author of A Guide to Uni Life, published by Trotman. To order a copy for £7.99 with free UK p&p go to theguardian.com/bookshop or call 0330 333 6846